Table and chairs



Oct. 24, 1967 A MEROLA I 3,348,879

TABLE ANDl CHAIRS Filed June 17, 1966 IN VEA/TOR.

P74 ?\/4 ANTHONY MEROLA /6 I /6 M LW By W l A t forheys United States Patent O 3,348,879 TABLE AND CHAIRS Anthony Merola, 957 Wellesley Road, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15206 Filed' June 17, 1966, Ser. No. 558,402 7 Claims. (Cl. 297-157) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a table and chairs and particularly to a table with detachable chairs. The table is supported by support members extending from the table beyond the plane of the table and connecting with the chair members, there being at least two chair members, Wit-h the points of connection of the support members to the table and chairs lying substantially in a common vertical plane. The chair seat members are mounted for movement in all directions in the plane of the seat.

The present invention generally comprises a flat table top portion, a plurality of table leg portions connected to the top portion at spaced intervals around the top portion and extending outwardly beyond the plane of the top portion, a plurality of chair members positioned around the top portion, each supported on la base member, the leg portions and chair support base members being connected together for mutual support of the table and chairs.

Preferably, there is mounted on the underside of the table top portion a lightweight tubular framework, the chair members are supported on generally flat base members with tubular upright seat supports, and the leg portions are made of lightweight tubular material connected to the table framework and to the base members. Desirably, the leg portions are detachably connected to the table top and base members for ease in packaging, storing and assembly. Detachable slidable connections are preferred between the leg portions on the one hand and the table Iand chair portions on the other. The preferred tubular construction of the table framework, leg portions and chair supports facilitate the slidable detachable connections. In this way toothe chairs may be adjustable towards and away from the table. Chair seats may be mounted in a unique manner to permit sliding movements in all directions in the plane of the seat. The combination table and chairs thus comprises a table portion, a plurality of chair members positioned adjacent the table in normal seating position, each chair member comprising a seat portion, .a base member engaging a floor surface beyond the plane of the table, and an upright support leg connecting the base to the seat to support the seat in a normal seating position with respect to the table and a plurality of table support members each connected to and extending from the underside of the table downwardly .and outwardly beyond the plane of the table to connect with one of the base members, whereby the table and chairs derive mutual support from the base members only, the points of connection of each table support member to the table and base respectively lying substantially in a common vertical plane with like points of at least one other table support member whereby the weight of the table acts through these points in the same vertical plane and being so arranged that two such connected table support members are capable of supporting the table in a relatively stable horizontal plane without additional support means. Preferably the chairs comprise a base member engaging a floor surface, a vertical support post connected to the base member, a first horizontal plate mounted atop the post and having an upright flange therearound, a seat, a centrally disposed post depending from the underside of the seat, a second horizontal plate 3,348,879 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 smaller than the rst plate mounted on the lower end of the centrally disposed post and resting on the rst plate, and means for restraining vertical movements of the second plate, whereby the seat is free to move in all directions in a generally horizontal plane.

With the present invention numerous combinations of table and chair arrangements are possible. A table can be mutually supported with only two chair members. Rectangular, round or fancifully shaped tables may be employed. The slidable connections make it possible to insert leaves or extension members with additional chair members is desirable. Several tables may be readily joined together to for-m a larger table of modular construction.

The invention provides a useful item for use in restaurants, cafeteras, homes .and the like or wherever tables and chairs are employed. In public dining places, for example, the cleaning of floors is facilitated by the fact tha-t there are fewer members contacting the floor than with conventional tables and chairs and fewer obstructions to interfere with the movements of employees and patrons.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and useful combination of table and chairs.

Another object is to provide a table and chairs with a minimal number of floor-contacting members.

A further object is to provide a table and chairs which can be readily assembled and disassembled and wherein the table size and numbers of chairs can be easily enlarged or diminished.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art and more fully understood by reference to the following description wherein:`

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an alternative embodiment showing a different manner for joining the chair and table supports to the base portion;

FIG. 3 is a partly section-al elevation of an improved chair of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partly schematic plan view of a table and chairs formed by joining -together two similar modules, a portion of the tables being broken away to reveal the manner of connecting them; and

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment for joining the chair and table supports to the base portion.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is a table top of generally conventional design, having fixed to its underside a suitable tubular metal framework 11. This framework comprises a tubular member 12 which extends longitudinally below the table 10 with its ends terminating at a location spaced inwardly from the table edges. Tubular member 13 extends in like fashion crosswise of the table. The ends of both tubes 12 and 13 are open, i.e., adapted to slidably receive therein la support member for the table. The tubes 12 and 13 may be of various shapes, but preferably Iare the type which are rectangular in cross-section, as shown.

The table top is supported by means of the tubular supports 14. The supports are each connected at one end to the table top and at the other end to the base members 1,5 which form a floor support mutually for both the table and the chairs 16. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 two supports are shown .at opposite ends of the table l0. In many cases two such supports are adequate to provide a stable table top. In others where the top is larger, more supports and chairs can be added to provide additional stability and seating. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 four supports and four seats can be employed, but for convenience in illustration only two are shown. The other two supports 14 and bases 15 would of course be connected to the table top at the opposite ends of tubular cross member 13.

`Each support member- 14 has an end portions 17 which is slidably insertable into an open end of one of the tubular framework members 12 and 13. The portion 17 is an extension of the framework member to which it is attached and extends outwardly therefrom to a position adjacent the edge of the table. The portion 18 extends downwardly at an acute angle, preferably less than about 45 with respect to the plane of the table 10, and out wardly beyond the plane of the table edge, preferably at an acute angle less than about 45 with respect to the table edge. The portion 18 should extend laterally beyond the plane of the chair 16 but short of the corner of the table, in a manner such that the support 14 does not interfere with the legs of a person seated in the chair and so as not to present. an obstruction beyond the corner of the table.

Portion 19 extends vertically downwardly, preferably from a height above the level of the seat of chair 16 to a level below said seat.

Portion 20 extends downwardly, away from the table and toward the base member 15. Support 14 terminates in a generally vertical portion 21 (FIGS. l and 3) which is fixed to the base 15. The member 14 may also be a tubular member, such as the table framework members 12 and 13. Members 14 may also be constructed so that the various portions thereof define a smooth continuous curve of the same general patterns as that described, rather than the angular curve shown in the drawings.

Different materials may lend themselves more readily to one or the other of these design features. The preperred material is a lightweight metal, such as aluminum.

As shown in the drawings FIGS. 1 and 4, the support members 14 are so arranged that the ends 17 which join the table and the ends 21 which join the base v15 are substantially .in a common vertical plane with the same two points on each of the support members of opposing chairs. Thus, the points of connection of each support member with the table and the base lie substantially in a common vertical plane with the like points of connection on an opposite chair. By so Iarranging the several parts the weight of the table Iacts through these points.

so that there is no tilting moment inherent in the strucure and only two opposing chairs and support members are necessary to mainta'm the table in a relatively stable horizontal plane.

The base members also provide support for the chair members 16. The main chair support 22 passes through an opening in the portion of support 14 and extends downwardly to the base 16 concentric with and disposed within the portion 21. Chair support 22 may be suita'bly fixed to the support 14, as by welding, at the juncture thereof with the portion 20. The seat itself designated 24 may be of any suitable design, preferably with a back rest portion 25. As best seen in FIG. 3 there is mounted on the underside of seat 24 a centrally disposed vertical post 2S which carries a circular horizontally disposed plate member 26. Atop the chair support 22 there is mounted a horizontal plate member 27 with an upright annular ange 28 therearound. The plate 26 rests on the plate 27 and is restrained from vertical movement by means of plate 29 which has a depending annular flange 30v which surrounds anda-buts the annular ange 28. Plate 29 is preferably made in two semi-circular portions for ease in assembly. To secure the plates 27 and 29 together there are `a plurality of circumferentially spaced fastening members such as` bolts 31 which pass radially through the flanges 28 and 30 for easy access during assembly and disassembly of the chair. Plate 29 is provided with a central circular opening 32 which is larger than the post 25 which extends therethrough. In this fashion the anged plates 27 and 29 together define a space within which is disposed the plate 26. The inner diameter of the flange 28 is substantially larger than the diameter of plate 26 and the diameter of opening 32 is substantially larger than the diameter of post 25, whereby the seat 24 is provided with freedom of movement in all directions in the plane of the seat, including rotational or swivel movement. Torel manner in which the chair support 22 and the supports 14 may be joined to the base 15. In FIG. 2 the base 15 is provided with two spaced sockets 33 and 34. Socket 33 is l an upright socket centrally disposed on the base and adapted to receive therein, the lower end 0f ya chair support 22. Laterally spaced from socket 33 there is a socket 34 which is adapted to receive therein a support 14. In FIG. 2 socket 34 is disposed at an angle from the vertical to correspond to the angle of support 14. In FIG. 5 there is a branched socket 35 which has an, upright vertical portion 36 adapted to receive therein chair support 22. Spaced vertically from the 'base 15 there is a socket portion 37 which projects upwardly at an angle from the vertical and is adapted to receive therein the end of supl port 14.

Referring to `FIG. 4 there is illustrated one manner in y which the just described table and chairs may be utilized in a modular structure to form an enlarged table area vwith additional seating space. In this embodiment three chairs combination so constructed and arranged that the table and chairs provide amutual support with a minimum of floor contact members.

While several embodiments of the inventiony have been described, it will be apparentto those skilled in thevart that variations and modifications in construction and arrangement of parts are possiblewithin the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A combination table and chairs, comprising (a) a table portion,

y(b) a Iplurality of chair members positioned adjacent the table in normal seating position, each chair member comprising (i) a seat portion,

(ii) a base member engaging a iioor surface beyond the plane of the table, and

(iii) an upright support leg connecting the base to the seat to support the seat in a normal seating position with respect to the table,

(c) a plurality of table support members each connected to and extending from the underside of thev table downwardly and outwardly beyond the plane of the table to connect with one of the base members, whereby the table and chairs derive mutual support from the base' members only, the points of connection of each table support member to the table and base respectively lying substantially in a come mon vertical plane with like points of at least one other table support member whereby the weight of the table acts through these points in the same vertical plane and being so arranged that two such connected table supportmcmbers are capable of supporting the table in a relatively stable horizontal plane without additional support means.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the number of table support members is equal to the number of chairs.

3. The combination as dened in claim 1 wherein the underside of the table top is provided with connecting means for slidably and detachably connecting each of the table supports thereto.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein the Dconnecting means comprises a tube for connecting each of the table supports.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein the table is generally rectangular and each of the tube connecting means extends from near the center of the table top to a position near an edge of the table.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5, wherein a plurality of table top portions are placed in juxtaposition with one edge of each table top in abutting confronting relation with another table top such that one tube of each table top is in alignment with a tube of the juxtaposed table top, and connecting means slidably, detachably inserted into the aligned tubes to join together the juxtaposed table top portions to form a table top of modular construction.

7. A chair comprising,

(a) a base member engaging a floor surface,

(b) a vertical support post connected to the base mem- Iber,

(c) a rst horizontal plate mounted atop the post and having an upright flange therearound,

(d) a seat,

(e) a centrally disposed post depending from the underside of the seat,

(f) a second horizontal plate smaller than the first plate mounted on the lower end of the centrally disposed post and resting on the irst plate, and

(g) means for restraining vertical movements of the second plate, whereby the seat is free to move in all directions in a generally horizontal plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COMBINATION TABLE AND CHAIRS, COMPRISING (A) A TABLE PORTION, (B) A PLURALITY OF CHAIR MEMBERS POSITIONED ADJACENT THE TABLE IN NORMAL SEATING POSITION, EACH CHAIR MEMBER COMPRISING (I) A SEAT PORTION, (II) A BASE MEMBER ENGAGING THE FLOOR SURFACE BEYOND THE PLANE OF THE TABLE, AND (III) AN UPRIGHT SUPPORT LEG CONNECTING THE BASE TO THE SEAT TO SUPPORT THE SEAT IN A NORMAL SEATING POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE TABLE, (C) A PLURALITY OF TABLE SUPPORT MEMBERS EACH CONNECTED TO AND EXTENDING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TABLE DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE PLANE OF THE TABLE TO CONNECT WITH ONE OF THE BASE MEMBERS, WHEREBY THE TABLE AND CHAIRS DERIVE MUTUAL SUPPORT FROM THE BASE MEMBERS ONLY, THE POINTS OF CONNECTION OF EACH TABLE SUPPORT MEMBER TO THE TABLE AND BASE RESPECTIVELY LYING SUBSTANTIALLY IN A COMMON VERTICAL PLANE WITH LIKE POINTS OF AT LEAST ONE OTHER TABLE SUPPORT MEMBER WHEREBY THE WEIGHT OF 